Gregory Favors Identified as State Trooper Shooting Suspect

ATLANTA, Ga. - Investigators say the man accused of shooting and killing a Georgia State Trooper on Monday night in Atlanta has a long criminal history, and was most recently released from the Fulton County Jail on December 14.

Authorities have charged Gregory Favors, 30, with the murder of Trooper First Class Chadwick LeCroy, 38. TFC LeCroy was gunned down in northwest Atlanta after investigators say he tried to stop the suspect for a busted headlight, and a short chase began.

Investigators say the chase lasted about two minutes, and the suspect’s vehicle crashed at the intersection of St. Paul Avenue NW and Hightower Road NW. They say that’s when TFC LeCroy got out of his vehicle and approached the suspect’s car, and three rounds of shots were fired.

TFC LeCroy was shot in the neck, and authorities say he died on the way to Grady Memorial Hospital. GBI Director Veon Keenan said the entire incident was caught on dash cam video, which was reviewed by investigators before Favors was charged.

Favors was taken into custody after he allegedly left the shooting scene in TFC LeCroy’s patrol car. Police say they found the car a short time later, and Cobb County police took Favors into custody.

Jail records indicate that Favors has been in the Fulton County Jail a total of 18 times. Most recently, he was booked into the jail on December 11 on charges including possession of cocaine, criminal attempt to enter an automobile, possession of tools for commission of a crime, and obstruction of a law enforcement officer. He bonded out of jail on December 14.

Fulton County Jail records show Favors was also in jail on June 26, 2010; March 17, 2010; February 3, 2010; April 20, 2009; December 12, 2008; April 10, 2008; October 7, 2007; July 12, 2007; April 18, 2000; and December 28, 1999.

During a news conference on Tuesday afteoon, investigators said Favors has had 19 prior arrests and six convictions. According to Keenan, several of Favors’ prior convictions were felonies, and they included possession of a firearm, alluding police, and drug possession.

The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office said Favors was taken to the Fulton County Jail on Tuesday evening, and he could face a judge for his first appearance as early as Wednesday moing, unless he waives that right.

The incident is under investigation by the Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Atlanta Police, and Cobb County Police.